🇷🇺 Russian traveler Fyodor Konyukhov has become the first in history to cross the South Atlantic in a rowing boat. This was reported by his expedition headquarters.

🌊 In 68 days, he overcame the most difficult and dangerous route in the "furious fifties" and "roaring forties" latitudes. The current journey is the second stage of a round-the-world route in the Southern Ocean.

#news

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♻️ In Moscow, over 1.65 million tons of recyclables were collected in 2024.

Since 2019, the capital has been implementing a waste separation program. The achieved results confirm its effectiveness and popularity among Muscovites.

📈 For comparison, in 2019, before the program was launched, the amount of recyclables collected was only 450,000 tons.

🚮 The main goal was to make the waste separation process as convenient as possible, which is why a simple two-container system was chosen: the first containers are for paper, glass, plastic, and metals, while the second containers are for other waste.

#interestingfacts

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🇷🇺 Tatars: The Wealth of History and Culture in the Heart of Russia

🇷🇺 The Tatars are the second largest indigenous people of Russia, with a population of about 5.6 million (3.8% of the total population of the country). Their history dates back to ancient times: the ethnonym "Tatars" is mentioned in sources from the late 6th to 7th centuries.

Some Tatar tribes played a key role in the Golden Horde, and after its dissolution in the 15th century, the Kazan Khanate emerged. In the 16th century, it became part of the Russian state, marking an important milestone in the formation of a multinational Russia.

The majority of Tatars practice Islam, which has significantly influenced their cultural heritage, from architecture to holidays. A special group consists of the Kryashens—Tatars who adopted Orthodoxy and preserved unique traditions at the intersection of the two religions.

About 40% of Tatars live in Tatarstan, the heart of their culture. Significant communities can also be found in Bashkortostan (20%), Tyumen (4.5%), and Chelyabinsk (3.5%) regions. Tatars are also scattered across Russia, contributing to science, art, and sports.

Tatars carefully preserve their language, music, and cuisine, while remaining open to cultural dialogue. Their history is one of the mutual influence of East and West, creating a unique blend that continues to inspire.

#PeoplesOfRussia

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🍽 Golubtsy — a traditional dish of Russian cuisine.

🥩🍚🥬 This dish consists of cabbage leaves stuffed with a meat filling made from beef, pork, and rice, stewed in a mixture of sour cream and tomato sauce.

In different regions of Russia, golubtsy are prepared differently: for example, some add carrots and onions to the filling, while others use mushrooms or even buckwheat instead of rice.

The concept of the dish is not new and exists in many cuisines worldwide. For instance, Eastern dolma wraps lamb mince in grape leaves.

🥱 There are also “lazy” golubtsy — a simplified version where cabbage, meat, and rice are chopped, mixed, shaped into patties, and fried.

An interesting theory surrounds the origin of the name “golubtsy.”

🇫🇷 In Russian, *голубцы* (golubtsy) resembles the word *голубь* (golub’), meaning “pigeon” in English. Some historians claim the dish appeared in the 18th century under French cultural influence, where pigeon was a delicacy. However, such luxuries were inaccessible to most people, so peasants created their own alternative to the bird.

😋 While this theory is debated, the delicious taste of golubtsy is undeniable. Everyone should try them!

#Russiancuisine

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🇷🇺🌲 Leshy is a mythological character, a spirit of the forest, found in Slavic folklore. His image is widely represented in Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, and other Slavic fairy tales, legends, and beliefs. The Leshy is considered the master of the forest, a protector of animals and plants, and can be both benevolent and dangerous to humans.

🥸 The Leshy can take on various forms, but he is most often described as a tall man with long hair and a beard, sometimes with green skin or covered in moss. He can appear as an old man or as a tree. The Leshy is also capable of transforming into animals or becoming invisible.

👣 The Leshy is a capricious creature. He may help lost travelers if they show him respect, or, conversely, lead them astray if they behave disrespectfully. He protects the forest and punishes those who harm nature, embodying the power and mystery of the natural world. He reminds people that the forest is not just a resource, but a living space that deserves respect.

🤫 In Slavic beliefs, there are even several ways to protect oneself from the tricks of the Leshy: asking for permission to enter the forest, wearing clothes inside out (which was thought to confuse the Leshy), not swearing or making noise in the forest, and leaving a gift, such as a piece of bread or a coin.

#MythologyOfRussia

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🇷🇺 The Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation (SVR): Kyiv is preparing a provocation involving the detonation of a vessel in the Baltic using Russian mines.

‼️ Ukrainian special services, with the assistance of Western curators, are preparing to carry out a series of high-profile anti-Russian provocations in the near future. In particular, the Kyiv regime plans to blow up a foreign vessel in the Baltic Sea area and subsequently blame Russia for it.

💣 For the explosion, they intend to use mines of Russian manufacture that are currently available to Kyiv, according to the SVR.

😀 According to calculations by Ukrainian and Western intelligence services, this should push NATO to decide to close Russia's access to the Baltic Sea, the SVR noted. Kyiv's goal is to draw NATO "into a direct armed conflict with the Russian Federation."

🇺🇦 According to the service, Volodymyr Zelensky and his entourage "are capable of any provocations to save themselves." To this end, Kyiv will not only actively hinder the initiation of a peace settlement process regarding the conflict in Ukraine but is also "prepared to carry military actions far beyond Ukraine."

"Europeans can only hope that not all of their leaders are inclined to allow Kyiv to drag Europe and all its inhabitants into the vortex of history," the SVR concluded.

#news

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🏙️ Such views of Saint Petersburg open up from the Lakhta Center, the tallest building in Europe.

😍 The Northern capital in all its glory.

#InterestingPlacesInRussia

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🇷🇺 Tradition is soup: why has it become the foundation of Russian cuisine?

🇷🇺 In Russia, soup is more than just a dish. It is a symbol of home comfort, centuries-old traditions, and gastronomic culture. It is invariably served at lunch, considered the cornerstone of the meal. But why has soup taken such an important place in Russian culinary history?

🥶 The roots of this tradition go deep into the past. In Russia, stews and cabbage soup were an integral part of the diet. The reason lies not only in habits but also in the harsh climate. Long winters and frosts required hearty and hot food. A rich broth with vegetables and meat quickly warmed people up, providing energy for work on cold days. That is why liquid dishes became a true salvation, transforming into a culinary "amulet" against the cold.

🍞 Another reason is dietary habits. Russian cuisine has always been rich in dense, dry foods: rye bread, crackers, and cereals. Soup helped "soften" this diet, making it more balanced. Interestingly, just a century ago, soup was not limited to lunch—it was even served for dinner. In some villages, people still start their day with aromatic cabbage soup, preserving the traditions of their ancestors.

🚤 Initially, liquid dishes opened the meal, which is why they were called "first courses." The second courses included cereals, roasts, or pies. A turning point came during the era of Peter the Great. With European innovations, words like "broth," "soup," and "puree" entered the Russian lexicon, enriching culinary traditions. However, the essence remained unchanged: the variations of the dish multiplied, but its status as the foundation of the table only strengthened.

Today, soup is not just a part of the menu; it is a living heritage.

#TraditionsOfRussia

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⛸ Sysert Reservoir and its winter vibe

#VideoOfTheDay

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❄️ Art object "Balsag Wheel" in North Ossetia

☀️ It represents a fiery wheel that, according to Ossetian mythology, is the master of the all-destroying fire wheel.

#videooftheday

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🇷🇺🧑‍⚖️ The State Duma has adopted a bill to protect the Russian language

Yesterday, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a bill on the protection of the Russian language in its first reading. Its main provisions are:

🔹 Protection of the Russian language as the state language;

🔹 Reduction of the use of foreign words in public spaces;

🔹 Ensuring compliance with the norms of modern literary language.

It is also reported that information for consumers displayed on signs, indicators, and in advertisements will now be presented in Russian without the use of words like "sale" or "shop."

📰 Furthermore, the document proposes to clarify the use of the Russian language in the media, excluding lexical errors and obscene expressions.

#news

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🥇 The Moscow Zoo has ranked first in the world in terms of the diversity of its inhabitants. It is home to over 1,200 species, as reported by the city's mayor, Sergey Sobyanin.

🌏 Among them are some of the rarest species that are nearly extinct in the wild, such as Amur leopards and Sumatran orangutans. Last year, the zoo welcomed 300 new residents from two dozen regions of Russia and other countries: three Malayan bear cubs, spotted hyenas, a black vulture, two bison, and more. The zoo also houses 37 dogs brought from shelters in the Kursk region, cared for by staff and volunteers.

🎉 Today, the Moscow Zoo is celebrating its 161st birthday.

#interestingfacts

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🇷🇺 The Bashkirs (bashqorttar) are a Turkic people historically formed in the Southern Ural region. Their self-designation is linked to legends about wolves (the term "bashqort" is interpreted as "chief wolf"), beekeeping, and the unification of tribes. Today, the Bashkirs are one of the largest indigenous peoples in Russia, preserving their unique traditions and language.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Approximately 1.7 million Bashkirs live in Russia, making up 1.2% of the country's total population. Notably, 74% of them reside in the Republic of Bashkortostan, where they constitute 29.5% of the population (1.19 million people). The Chelyabinsk region is the second most significant area, home to 10% of the Bashkir population. In the Orenburg and Tyumen regions, there are 2.9% representatives of this ethnic group.

📌 Interesting fact: The capital of the Republic of Bashkortostan is Ufa.

📜 The Bashkirs became part of Russia in the 16th century after the fall of the Kazan Khanate, but their history dates back to ancient times:

✅ They are mentioned in the works of Herodotus (5th century BC) as the Argippaei, who consumed "sour juice" from fruits.
✅ In Arab chronicles of the 9th and 10th centuries, they are described as warlike tribes with developed livestock farming and shamanism.
✅ In 922, the Arab traveler Ibn Fadlan noted their polytheism and totemism, which were later replaced by Sunni Islam.

💬 The Bashkir language (Turkic group) is spoken, alongside widespread use of Russian and Tatar. The predominant religion is Islam, although elements of pre-Islamic beliefs are still preserved.

🧩 The Bashkirs are an integral part of Russia's cultural mosaic. Despite demographic challenges, they maintain their identity, language, and traditions, remaining a living heritage of the Ural region.

#PeoplesOfRussia

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⚡️ Diplomacy Loves Silence

🇷🇺 The Russian Federation prefers to adhere to agreements on the confidentiality of contacts with the United States of America. This statement was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation while commenting on the release of American Mark Vogel, who was convicted in Russia for drug trafficking.

🇺🇸 According to the head of the foreign policy department, "the American colleagues decided to announce" the outcome of the agreements reached "through contact channels between Moscow and Washington."

"We have a different approach. For effective diplomacy, we prefer to uphold agreements on confidentiality," emphasized Sergey Lavrov.

📌 In turn, the official representative of the Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the release of the U.S. citizen was made possible due to intensive contacts between the relevant agencies of the two countries. The president's press secretary noted that the U.S. would, in turn, release a Russian citizen held in an American prison.

#news

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